Lewis Hamilton fastest in final practice at Italian GP

Lewis Hamilton had the fastest time in the final practice session at the Italian Grand Prix, edging out championship leader Fernando Alonso by just one thousandth of a second.

As speculation about his future and a possible switch to Mercedes continued, Hamilton posted a time of 1 minute, 24.578 seconds in perfect conditions at Monza on Saturday. The McLaren driver also topped Friday's second practice.

Alonso put Friday's problems behind him to put in a strong performance, but was beaten by a flying lap from Hamilton, five minutes from the end of the session.

Paul Di Resta was third, but his chances of a points finish on Sunday took a blow after he was handed a five-place grid penalty because of a gearbox change.

A gearbox is supposed to last five consecutive races under FIA regulations, but the Force India team was forced to place a new one in Di Resta's car after last weekend's Belgium Grand Prix.

On Friday, Alonso endured a suspected engine failure in the first practice and a brake problem and gearbox failure during the afternoon session.

The Ferrari driver saw his lead over Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel cut to 24 points last weekend after his race was ended following a wild multi-car accident caused by Lotus driver Romain Grosjean at the start.

However, Vettel has struggled with his car so far at Monza and has finished outside the top 10 in all three practices.

Felipe Massa and Jenson Button completed the top five in the third practice session at Monza as it looks like being a close fight for pole position in the afternoon qualifying session.

Five-time Monza winner Michael Schumacher was fastest in the first practice, but had technical difficulties Saturday morning and finished 14th, nearly a second behind Hamilton.

5-spot grid penalty for Resta; starts Italian GP in 9th place

... contd.

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